Dayton Power & Light Shutting Down Two Coal-fired Power Plants

Dayton Power & Light has disclosed that two of its coal-fired power plants will no longer be economically viable in 2018, according to a CNBC report. The two coal-fired power plants are both located in southern Ohio, so that means that the states will have to deal with a number of people losing their jobs in connection with the closures.

The Hill reported that the J.M. Stuart and Killen generating stations will be the coal-fired power plants that will be shuttered. The AES subsidiary has executed a review of the power plants that lasted for several months before coming to the decision that keeping them running would no longer be profitable.

Dayton Power & Light has considered how the economy would change and how it will impact the power plants in reaching the decision, according to reports. This is definitely not the first time that an energy company decided to close down coal-fired power plants. There have been hundreds of coal-fired power plants that have been shut down in recent years.

The coal industry has been battling criticisms especially from environmentalists who argue that coal as an energy source harms the environment more than it helps people. On top of that, the increasing popularity of natural gas as an energy source also provides a negative impact on the coal industry.

Former President Barack Obama's administration had supported the phasing out of coal as an energy source. However, current President Donald Trump has vowed to impose less stringent regulations on energy companies that rely on coal. Trump is planning to do away with legislations that contributed to the weakening of the coal industry.

Environmentalists and critics cheered Dayton Power & Lights' decision to close the two plants. The Sierra Club, one of those that are happy with the decision, urged everyone to work together for cleaner energy options.

Jobs & Hire previously reported that Exxon Mobil attorneys defended U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for using an alias email account when he was still the CEO of the energy company.